Importance of SATS at Higher Level Schools

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm applying to UPenn SEAS early. My grades are good, and I'm in the top 5% at my school, but the rank won't be disclosed. I have great recommendations, two from my AP Chemistry and AP US History teacher and one from my yearbook adviser. I also have great essays and well-rounded extracurriculars with some engineering-related ones with awards. However, my SATs are not that great at all. I thought I did well on the October 7th SATs and actually got a 1990, 10 points less than my March score. I have a superscore of 2020, 600 CR, 710 M, and 680 WR. My superscore puts me at a little higher than the 25% for Penn, which is 1970. In addition, my SAT II scores are not the best either. I have a 730 in chemistry, a 720 Math II, and a 660 in biology. I was looking at the ED/RD acceptances and the people who got accepted had many different SAT scores. According to [url=<a href="http://www.admissionsug.upenn.edu/applying/profile.php%5Dthis%5B/url"&gt;http://www.admissionsug.upenn.edu/applying/profile.php]this[/url&lt;/a&gt;], the acceptance rate per SAT range doesn't fall too much. </p>

<p>Can your awards, extracurriculars, grades, and essays make up for poor SAT scores, especially as poor as mine?</p>

2

<p>Yes they definitely can. I met an admissions officer from Penn who said that everything on your application is equally important, but if there's one thing that's SLIGHTLY less important it's the SAT. Great awards, grades and EC's (which you have) can always make up for a weak SAT; but a great SAT can never make up for the rest.</p>

3

<p>Alright, that makes me very happy. By the way, this is everything else. I don't know if your answer might change.</p>

<p>
[quote]
GPA: 3.83 UW|4.2351 W
Rank: 12-15/~437, school does not disclose rank, only percentile, top 3%
Note: Straight As (some A+ Freshman and Sophomore year), 5 As (some A+s) and 4 Bs (some B+s) Junior Year, 3 Honors freshman year, 4 Honors sophomore year, 4 APs (Psychology, English Lang/Comp, Chemistry, US History) and 2 Honors (Precalc, French IV) junior year, most rigorous curriculum

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:

[quote]
AP Biology
AP English Literature/Composition
AP Calculus BC, AP Computer Science
AP Physics A through Stanford EPGY (no physics could fit into schedule, so I had to go with this, counselor will list in letter)
Physical Education IV
Health Lab IV
Yearbook Journalism & Design

[/quote]
</p>

<p>
[quote]
Honor Roll (9th-11th), High Honor Roll (9th & 10th), National Honor Society, French National Honor Society, Governor School Nominee, AP Scholar with Honor</p>

<p>Daedalus/Yearbook Staff (10th-12th, Editor, Academics Section Head, Community/Index Section Head, All NJ Diamond winner for past 2 years, CSSPA Crown Winner)
NJIT Chemistry Olympics (10th-12th, Co-founder of school team)
Banner/Newspaper Staff (9th-12th)
Raider Robotics (9th, 11th, 12th, awards and such listed below)
Volunteering at St. Peter's UH (10th-12th, St. Peter's Service Award)
Peer Tutoring (10th, 12th, Tutoring, Chem Tutor, Co-founder of Second Tutoring Program)
Mosque Extension Project (9th Grade, 240 Hours of service, Project Leader)</p>

<p>(Robotics-related)Ramp Riot Champions, 2005
Pennsylvania Annual Robotics Challenge Champions, 2005 & 2007
South Carolina GM Industrial Design Award, 2005
South Carolina Regional Finalist, 2005
New Jersey Regional Delphi "Driving Tomorrow's Technology" Award, 2005
New Jersey Regional Champions, 2006
New Jersey Chairman’s Award, 2006
Las Vegas Regional Champions, 2006
Las Vegas Delphi "Driving Tomorrow's Technology" Award, 2006
Monty Madness Champions, 2006
Championship Event Newton Division Winners, 2006
Duel on the Delaware Champions, 2006
New Jersey Regional Champions, 2007
New Jersey Regional General Motors Industrial Design Award, 2007
Championship Event Galileo Division, Third Place, 2007
Battle O’ Baltimore Champions, 2007

[/quote]
</p>

<p><a href="Hobbies,%20Related%20Interests">quote</a>Skateboarding, Distributed Computing Projects (World Community Grid by IBM, Folding@Home by Stanford, counselor will talk about this in her rec, she finds it fascinating), Unix-like operating systems (FreeBSD, Gentoo GNU/Linux volunteer developer), Digital Art (Photoshop, The GIMP), Religion & Politics

[/quote]
</p>

4

<p>Do your research and write a passionate essay about why you want to attend UPenn specifically. Search the faculty and find someone whose work you're interested in and be able to convey your reasons why. KNow the school. Hopefully you've visited.</p>

5

<p>Well.....I am always suspicious of anyone who says that the SAT is not that important. Sadly, it is. Its an objective measurement (at least in theory) and its the only way they can measure you against someone from a different school with otherwise the same stats. </p>

<p>I dont know what Penn will do. Depends on your intended major and how you convey that on the application. CR is not your strength and so if you put "English Major" on the application you will get frowns from the admissions committee.</p>

<p>That being said, I would start looking around. Penn can be a healthy and rational REACH school. Pick another reach. Then pick 3 match and 3 safety schools and embrace them. I agree with jerzgrlmom that visiting the school is key and perhaps meeting faculty who MAY intervene/advocate for you...but not necessarily. </p>

<p>You would be welcome at many schools and you should be proud of your accomplishments. DONT put all your eggs in one basket and your emotional energy into one school. It may work out for you, but then again, it may not.</p>

<p>You are smart enough to pick schools that are great fits for you academically, socially, financially, etc. So spread your wings a little bit and go for it!</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

6

<p>Thats not meant to insult snookers by the way. Just my opinion that when admissions offices say the SAT is not that important, to be careful how you read that. Its always important in my book. Even if I am not a huge fan of the SAT. There are also superb schools that dont require an SAT score to be submitted, if that interests you.</p>

7

<p>I wasn't suggesting getting faculty to intervene for you. My son was interested in Penn at one time and I believe the admissions rep stated that they want you to look into their faculty and offerings and be capable of expressing what specifically interests you and why. I think they ask that on the app. Penn expects candidates to be willing to research what Penn offers. Who knows? Maybe it increases their yield. They don't want kids who simply add Penn to their list for no reason other than it's in Phili or that it's an Ivy so I was suggesting you do what they want.</p>